ANTELOPES 303 



The female, however, then took up the running, but had not 

 the pace of her companion, and the little antelope, which now 

 kept a diagonal course up the hillside, gained the top, still 

 followed by the cheetah, which was only a few yards behind, 

 and they both disappeared from view on the other side. As 

 the male lay where he had given up the running, the other two 

 females which had remained behind joined him, and the ground 

 being far too open to attempt a stalk I waited, still in the 

 hope that they would make for the boulders. In this I was dis- 

 appointed, for in a few minutes I saw the female reappear over 

 the top of the hill, about 300 yards off, and was delighted to 

 see that she had failed to catch the steinbuck ; but, instead of 

 coming down to the others, she took up a position on the top 

 of an ant-heap, sitting up like a huge cat, when her companions 

 saw her and went up to her ; they all disappeared over the 

 top of the hill, and I eventually lost them in the bush and long 

 grass on the other side. 



WATERBUCK 



The Waterbuck (Swahili name, ' Kuru ') is common every- 

 where south of Lake Baringo, near fresh water, and is also 

 found in the vicinity of a good many of the salt-water creeks on 

 the coast. It is particularly plentiful on the banks of the Tana 

 river, and in the Kilimanjaro district on the banks of the 

 Weri Weri. Like most bush-loving antelopes, it is fairly easy 

 to stalk, but is a very tough beast and takes a good deal of killing 

 if not hit. in the right place. Its flesh, though much relished by 

 the natives, is coarse and exceedingly rank indeed that of an old 

 bull is almost uneatable. Near the coast it is generally found in 

 thick bush, unless the sportsman is up very early and out by 

 daylight, when he may find it on its feeding-ground in the open. 

 Up country, where it is less hunted, it is more partial to park- 

 like and open bush country. On the banks of the Weri Weri 

 herds of fifteen to twenty were not uncommon, but the ordinary 

 herd consists of a bull and three or four cows. Single bulls are 

 also constantly met with. The waterbuck is a grass feeder. 



